Hey GPODers! In case you missed yesterday’s post, we’re swimming in a sea of blue, thanks to the many early bloomers from Kathy Schreurs’s fantastic garden in Iowa.

It’s been an extremely long spring by our northwest Iowa standards: I spotted my first crocus mid-March, and other harbingers of spring (Virginia bluebells, lungworts, brunneras, and forget-me-nots) were just blooming their last on Memorial Day. The long spell of cool, often rainy weather went by uninterrupted by March blizzards or May heatwaves. There’s been time to slow down and enjoy the color of spring. I’ve noticed that while roses are red and violets are blue, several other early arrivals are blue(ish) too.

I planted a few forget-me-nots (Myosotis scorpioides, Zones 3–8) the spring my father passed away, and they spread cheer every May.

Where has amsonia been all my gardening life? I only “discovered” it when the owner of my favorite nursery encouraged me to try it a few years ago. We now have 10 of them. I think this is ‘Storm Cloud’ (Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’, Zones 4–9). Once they emerge, they grow rapidly. The above photo was on May 7, and the below on May 19.

Easy to understand why Kathy got hooked on amsonia. While this profusion of blooms in spring is show stopping, the foliage of this perennial absolutely glows in the sun and its mounding habit gives it the same structural power as low-growing shrubs. If Kathy is right about the variety, she certainly snagged a winner. ‘Storm Cloud’ is the Proven Winners® 2024 National Landscape Perennial of the Year.

The blues of spring must be almost over, since my iris is blooming (below), but I can count on the hostas to bring another season of (quite different) blues.

While spring is ending, there are still plenty of places to spot shades of blue in the garden. At a quick glance, anyone would likely call this iris “purple’, but it’s never that simple with plants. A close up of the petals relieves different shades of violet, and even some hints of deep blue.

And, as Kathy mentioned above, the varying blue-green shades of hostas. This variety with massive, rippled leaves pops against the silvery ferns behind.

When you have this wonderful variety of blooms, bringing some garden color indoors is a must! Can you spot some of the plants we’ve seen from Kathy’s garden in these beautiful bouquets?

And what’s your favorite color in the garden? Let us know below, in the comments, or send pictures of all the plants you have of that color in your garden!

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